Siruping valve



Patented June 8, 'i943 NETE STATES fornia Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of New York Application January 13, 1941, Serial No. 374,184

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a siruping valve. These valves are employed at the bottoms of sirup bowls for supplying sirup to containers such as cans, that have already been partially filled with a food product. Although this improvement could be used for supplying a liquid of any kind to any kind of a food product, it is intended particularly for use in supplying sirup to fruit in cans which are about ready to be headed. In accordance with the usual practice, the containers or cans to be supplied with sirup, are advanced into position under the siruping valve in a rotary siruping machine, and the container or can is moved upwardly so as to open an annular valve which normally seats against the upper side of a fixed head. In other Words, the machine operates so as to develop a relative axial movement of the can and the siruping head, so that the head enters the mouth of the can. As soon as the Valve is opened, sirup iiows down into the interior of the container to surround the fruit that is carried therein. These heads are generally referred to as displacement heads, because one of their functions is to occupy a portion of the interior volume of the can at its mouth, and thereby prevent waste of sirup. In other words, these displacement heads are intended to prevent overiiowing the cans with consequent waste of sirup. Y

In practice, the cans to be supplied with siruD may contain whole fruit, half fruit, sliced fruit, or diced fruit. Each of these classes of fruit requires a different quantity f sirup to correspond with the inner volume of the can that is not occupied by the fruit itself. The sirup valves in general use are not adapted for regulating the quantity of sirup supplied to 'the cans.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide simple means for enabling the quantity of sirup supplied to the cans, to be nicelB regulated, for the particular class of fruit in the cans, the general purpose being to avoid waste ci sirup.

In accordance with the usual practice, the displacement heads employed are concave on their under side, with depressed edges. When the relative movement between the can and the head takes place. that causes the head to enter the mouth of the can, the air displaced by the sirup flowing into the can, is vented out through the head, and this is usually accomplished by providing an air duct in the head, which communicates with the annular space between the periphery of the head and the Wall of the can. It is, however, necessary to provide an additional vent up through the highest point of the concave under CFI face of the head; in other words, an inner central vent is provided, and at this central vent an inner vent tube is provided. When the sirup lls the interior of the can, some of the sirup backs up through the air duct referred to, and 'intov an outer tube that extends up tov a po-int about the level of the sirup in the sirup tank. vSirup also backs up through the inner tube to the level in the tank. When the relative movement occurs in the machine to withdraw the can, the valve closes, and the Sirup that backed upl into the inner and outer vent tubes, returns into the can. One of the objects of this invention is to provide simple means for regulating the quantity of sirup that can back up into the inner tube, and inthis way provide simple means for gauging with considerable accuracy the amount of sirup that is required for the different classes of fruit asv suggested above; that is to say, Whole fruit, half fruit, sliced fruit, and diced fruit.

One of the diiculties encountered in the operation of siruping valves ofethis kind, is that there is a tendency at times for fruit to clog the mouth of the inner air Vent tube, thereby inter.-

I fering with the proper functioning of the valve.V One of the objects of this invention is to provide.

simple means for preventing such Ia cloggingof the inner air vent tube.-

Further objects of theyv invention will appear `hereinafter. K

-The invention consists in the novel partsv and combination of parts to be described hereinaiter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient* siruping valve.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section through the inner air vent tube and illustratingthe tube as provided with a displacement rod of a different diameter from that illustrated'in Fig. l, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig, 2, and illustrating a displacement rod of even smaller diameter than that shown in Fig. v2.

Fig. 4 is a. bottom plan of the bottoml of 'the' displacement head or liner.

Fig. is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a substantially horizontal section I taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, to further illustratethe construction of the valve and displacement head.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, it should be stated that In the machine illustrated, I indicates the sirup bowl containing sirup up to any suitable level; for example, as indicated by the line 2. In this type of machine illustrated, the tank is a rotary tank, and as the tank rotates, the con-v tainers or cans 3 to be lled, become elevated by a cam so that the upper end of the can thrusts against the sealing ring or gasket ring 4 of the valve 5. This lifts the valve against the force exerted by a plurality of coil springs such as the spring 6. By raising the valve ring 5 in this way, the sirup is permitted to now down through the s'irup ducts V'Iin ythe body 8 of the valve. The displacement head 9 is of considerably smaller diameter than the container 3, so that an annular space I9 is formed through which the sirup' descends into the container. Communicating with this annular space there is an` air duct I I, which permits the escape of air from the interior of the container beyond the periphery of the head, and the air escaping through this duct passes through a threaded air vent I2 in the upper side of the head 9, at'wlnch an outer vent tube I3 is secured. AThis tube extends above the level of the liquid in thesirup tank, The present invention may be practiced by making slight alterations in a sirup valve constructed substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1, although itshould be understood that if desired, structures embodying this improvement, may be employed as an original construction for a siruping valve.

In the type of valve illustrated, the head 9 is formed of rigid material such as cast-metal, and in -order to vent the air in the container ,below the downwardly projecting rim I II of the complete head, the central air vent I5 isV provided at which an inner air vent tube I5 is secured.

In order to increase the displacement of the complete head, I provide the under side of the usual head 9 with a liner I'I, and although this liner can be made of any desired material and form, I prefer to give it a concave-convex shape and make it of a material such as rubber, or synthetic rubber.

Although the invention maybe practiced by using a, flat-headed valve, in the present drawing, by reason of the concave-convex form of the lineror inner head, a dome-shaped chamber or air pocket I8 is formed under the same, and when the sirup flowing into the can arrives at the bottom edge at I4 of this liner, the air in this pocket I8 can only escape through the inner vent tube I6.

As pointed out above, when the container 3 is being supplied with a sirup, after the airpasses out of the air duct or passage II and out of the dome-shaped pocket I8 under the head, the Sirup will rise in the tubes I3 and I5 and, of course, if sufficient time is allowed, the sirup lin these tubes will rise to the level 2 of the mass of sirup in the tank. When the container 3 recedes through the action of its supporting cam (not illustrated) the sirup in these tubes will pass back into the container, In order to regulate the quantity of sirup that willpass back in this way, I provide the interior of the inner tube I6 with a displacement rod I9, which is preferably of round form and supported on the upper end of the inner tube by means of a collar 20 and set screw 2 I. This collar holds the displacement rod I9 centrally in the inner tube so that an annular passage 22 is formed for the sirup.

In normal use of a siruping machine, it will operate for a certain period on one of the classes of canned fruit itemized above, and from time to time the machine will be required to operate on other classes. At such a time in order to provide the proper amount of sirup for the class` of canned fruit that is passing through the machine, a rod I9 of proper diameter will be selected. In Figs. 2 and 3 I illustrate two such rods I9a and |913, the former of which is of smaller diameter than the rod I9 and will, of course, operate to `give an increased amount of sirup returning to the can; the rod I9b is of still smaller diameter, and will give the greatest quantity return of the sirup. f

In order to insure free venting of air at the inner vent tube I6, its upper end at the collar is preferably provided with a plurality of notches 23, and the bore of the collar that receives the upper end of the rod, is also preferably provided with a plurality of longitudinal vent grooves 24. These notches in the vent grooves -insure free venting of the air to the atmosphere.

The liner I'I is shaped so that the under side of the rigid head forms a seat for the same. It should be understood, however, that in the practice of the invention, in an original design of a siruping valve, it would not be necessary to construct the siruping head'with a liner, as the invention can be practiced by forming a head all in one piece. However, in an attachment to an existing valve of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, I form the liner I'I with a central air vent 25 to register with the vent I5 in the rigid head 9.

In order to discourage any tendency to clog the outlet from the air pocket I8 when the sirup is flowing up into the tube I6, I prefer to form the under side of the head with substantially radial` grooves 26. These grooves are preferably of substantially V-shaped cross-section, and taper in depthV outwardly to their tips, and would form passages for sirup even if a piece of fruit lodged itself under the axis of the opening. However, in order to prevent this clogging tendency by means which is independent of the use of such sirup ducts 28, I may employ a rod I9 of greater length than illustrated in Fig. 1, so that its lower end would project down to alow point such as that indicated by the dotted lines at 21. In other words, the lower end of the rod would project below the under face of the head, and if a piece of fruit tended to lodge itself at this point, the bottom face of the rod would hold it clear of the Linder surface of the head in the vicinity of the outlet.

When the invention is practiced by using a liner head I1, I prefer to give the liner substantially the form illustrated.V and form it so that it presents an upwardly extending marginal flange 28 that may be formed with an inwardly projecting annular tongue 29 to be received in a corresponding groove formed at the rim of the rigid head 9. The flange 28 can be provided with a spring ring 30 or any other suitable means for holding the liner in place.

Although a certain quantity of sirup will always back up into the outer vent tube I3, this quantity is substantially constant for any given speed of operation of the sirup machine, and hence this control of the eiective area of the inner tube I6 by means of the rod I9, regulates the total quantity of sirup that returns to the cam.

The use of a solid rod instead of a tube opened below, is advantageous because the tube merely operates to form an annular air trap in the space around it. Such a tube requires accuracy and definite measurements in setting it for given displacement. In using solid rods for effecting the displacement, it is merely necessary when changing from one type of lled cans of fruit, to lift the rods out and replace them with a diierent size rod. This change can be made instantly and by the machine operator. No adjustment is required, and they are accurate in displacing a denite amount. The solid rods are therefore much more satisfactory in operation. They are more accurate and prevent loss of time in shutting down the machine for making the necessary changes. In using the word solid I mean, of course, a bar that will displace as though it Were solid. Of course, a tube closed at its lower end would suce.

Any usual means may be employed with the bowl I for maintaining a constant level for the sirup. This, of course, is necessary to insure uniform results in the action of the siruping valve.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a sirup valve for supplying sirup to containers partially lled with a food product, the combination of a rigid displacement head of smaller diameter than the container, so as to leave an annular space around the edge of the head, said head having an air duct formed therein to communicate with the said annular space and permit air to escape upwardly from the container when the sirup enters the same, said head further having an outer air vent tube on its upper side communicating with said air duct, a concavo-convex liner carried on the under side of said rigid head, said liner and said head having an air vent formed through the same, and an inner air vent tube communicating therewith and lying within the outer tube, said inner tube operating to permit a quantity of Sirup to pass upwardly into the same when the container is being filled with sirup; and a displacement rod secured in the inner tube displacing a volume having a cross-section area slightly less than that of the tube so as to leave only an annular space around the rod, and thereby reducing the effective area of the inner tube as a passage for the sirup.

2. In a sirup valve for supplying sirup to containers partially filled with a food product, the combination of a rigid displacement head of smaller diameter than the container, so as to leave an annular space around the edge of the head, said head having an air duct formed therein to communicate with the said annular space and permit air to escape upwardly from the container when the sirup enters the same, said head further having an outer air vent tube on its upper side communicating with said air duct, a concavo-convex liner carried on the under side of said rigid head, said liner and said head having an air vent formed through the same, Yand an inner air vent tube communicating therewith and lying within the outer tube, said inner tube operating to permit a quantity of sirup to pass upwardly into the same when the container is being filled with sirup; and a solid displacement rod mounted in the inner tube operating to leave only an annular space surrounding the same, reducing the effective area of the inner tube as a passage for the sirup, and projecting through the vent in the liner to prevent stoppage of the inner tube.

3. In a sirup valve for supplying sirup to containers partially lled with a food product, the combination of a substantially circular displacement head adapted to enter the mouth of a cylindrical container in a substantially central position so that an annular space is formed through which the sirup can iiow downwardly into the container, means for venting the annular space upwardly through said head to permit escape of air in the container beyond the periphery of the head, said head having a concave under face Y and having a vent for permitting escape of air upwardly therefrom through the head, an air vent tube connected therewith for venting the air from under the head, said air vent tube operating as a passage for upward movement of the Sirup when the sirup is supplied to the container; and a removable solid rod located in the inner tube so as to leave only an annular space surrounding the same, for regulating the effective area of the passage through the inner tube.

4. In a Valve for supplying a liquid to a container, the combination of a displacement head to enter the mouth of the container, said head having an air vent for venting air upwardly from the space under the head, a vent tube communicating with the vent and extending upwardly therefrom, and a displacement rod carried in the tube with its lower end projecting down through the vent, and thereby preventing stoppage of the vent. Y

5. In a sirup valve for supplying a liquid to a food product in a container, the combination of a head to enter the mouth of the container, means for effecting the supply of the liquid to the container through the space between the periphery of the head and the wall of the container, said head having a concave under face with an air vent through the same, and a tube connected with the air vent for venting the air from under the head as the liquid ows into the container, the under side oi said head having grooves communicating with the said vent and extending outwardly therefrom toward the periphery of the head.

6. In a valve for supplying a liquid to a container, the combination of a displacement head to enter the mouth of the container, said head having an air vent for venting air upwardly from the space under the head, a vent tube communicating with the vent and extending upwardly therefrom, and a solid displacement rod carried in the tube so as to leave only an annular space around the same.

CLYDE D. RUSSELL. 

